2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Review & Road Test at Automotive.com

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2002 Mitsubishi Lancer

Below is a review of the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer written by the automotive experts at Automobile Magazine. A full evaluation of the driving experience, price, equipment, and specs are here in a structured, easy-to-navigate format from journalists with a wealth of experience.

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Costs of Ownership

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IntelliChoice Value Rating

The chart above shows the purchase price versus ownership cost for each car from a specific vehicle class. The cars with better than average ownership cost/purchase price correlations are the best values, and these best value cars are represented by the dots below the curve. (i.e. the cars that have a lower ownership cost compared to its purchase price.) Those cars, which are worse than average or poor values, appear above the curve.

One way to view the graph is to draw a vertical line through any purchase price. You may see several dots that fall on this line - each of which is a car with a similar purchase price. However, notice the difference in ownership costs of each car represented by the vertical position of the dot. Two cars with the same purchase price can have thousands of dollars difference in ownership costs. This is what separates "good value" cars from "poor value" cars.

What is a good car value?

A "good car value" is one whose cost to own and operate is less than expected. The lower the cost to own and operate a car compared to what is expected, the better the value of that car.

But how do we know a car's "expected cost"?

For each car in the class, IntelliChoice plots the car's purchase price against the total five-year cost to own and operate it as determined by IntelliChoice research. Each dot on the above chart represents a specific car. Generally, we find that as the purchase price of the car increases, the cost to own and operate that car increases. This is why the dots on the graph tend to rise upward and to the right. This phenomenon also makes intuitive sense - as the purchase price rises, financing costs tend to rise, as do insurance, depreciation, taxes, and most other car ownership costs.

This is an important concept. It's normal for car ownership costs to rise as purchase price rises. Therefore, we can't just establish one "average" ownership cost number for each class, since cars in the class have different purchase prices. (This is why the "Relative" shown on each chart is different for cars in the same car class.)

Using statistical techniques, IntelliChoice "connects the dots" to form a curve that defines, for this car class, the relationship between the car's purchase price and car's ownership costs. This curve is our "expected cost" curve. The curve defines, for any car in the class, the five-year ownership cost that we would expect to see at each possible purchase price. If every car in the class were an average value, then all the dots would fall exactly on the curve. However, it's rare that any dot is exactly on the curve. Some dots are a little higher or lower, and some are a lot higher or lower. The dots that are a little lower are better than average car values, while the dots that are a lot lower are excellent car values (A dot that is a lot lower than the curve has ownership costs much lower than expected for a car of its purchase price). Conversely, a dot a little higher than the curve is a poorer than average car value, while a dot that is much higher than the curve is a poor car value.

Value is a relative term, not an absolute term. It is performing better than the logical expectation.

So is a Mercedes-Benz E320 expensive to own and operate? Certainly in an absolute sense. Most other cars cost less. But, when its cost to own and operate is plotted against cars with comparable invoice prices, the E320 costs less. So the E320 is not expensive to own and operate - it is a good car value. The Mercedes does not have low ownership costs, but it has low ownership costs for its invoice price.

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Review From Automobile Magazine

2002 Mitsubishi Lancer

By Greg Anderson / Article provided by: Automobile Magazine

New Orleans - Not to be confused with Dodge's K-car-based compact sedan from the '80s (remember the Lancer Shelby?), Mitsubishi's Lancer aims to cash in on some motorsports heritage of its own. That heritage--in the form of the Japanese-market Lancer's four titles in the World Rally Championship--is part of what Mitsubishi hopes will bring compact-car buyers to the triple-diamond brand. More likely, its young target market will recognize the car from appearances in Sony PlayStation racing simulation games.

The Lancer sedan replaces the Mirage in the Mitsubishi lineup. As prophesied by its name, the Mirage is fading from the automotive landscape, with the sedan disappearing for '02 and the coupe (which won't be replaced) following a year later.

Although the Lancer is not heralded as a descendant of the subcompact Mirage, the Mirage is the measuring stick for the Lancer's comparative superiority. It's larger inside and out and features a bigger four-cylinder engine--2.0 liters, up from 1.8--with an additional nine horsepower and fourteen pound-feet of torque, to 120 and 130, respectively. Because of increased weight, however, that power proves adequate but not revolutionary. The Galant's 2.4-liter engine is under consideration for the Lancer, which would certainly add fun to the drive. Through miles of straight-road bayou country, the Lancer's front strut and rear multi-link suspension provided a well-damped and quiet ride--which is its mission much more than sporty handling.

Inside, the Lancer is ergonomically efficient and surprisingly roomy. A 102.4-inch wheelbase allows for greater passenger volume than the Mirage, and, at 36.6 inches, rear legroom is identical to that enjoyed in the upscale Diamante sedan. Marketing types claim that it's a "mid-size driving experience at a compact price," and, with more passenger-compartment volume in the Lancer than in the Honda Civic or the Nissan Sentra, their claim is more than wishful thinking.

But the Lancer is not just a practical economy car; it's also a pretty face. Borrowing styling cues from cars upmarket, the headlights are pure Lexus IS300, and the upright grille pulls off a convincing imitation of last year's Infiniti Q45.

Even the base-level ES is well equipped, with power windows, locks, and mirrors; air conditioning; and a 100-watt stereo with CD player. One rung up the options ladder, the LS adds an electronically controlled four-speed automatic (which adapts its shift points based on your driving style), body-colored door handles and mirrors, aluminum wheels, and keyless entry. ABS is optional on the LS, as are front side air bags. Finally, an O.Z. Rally edition, available with either manual or automatic transmission, has larger-diameter struts, special wheels, a sport steering wheel, an aero kit, and decorative gewgaws.

Chief operating officer Pierre Gagnon says he expects the Lancer to double Mitsubishi's U.S. small-car sales. With 2 million compact cars sold in the States each year, 64,000 Lancer sales should be within reach. And to increase demand, we'd suggest expediting the importation of the turbocharged Lancer Evolution VII. Buyers already will be acquainted with it from their time behind the virtual wheel in Gran Turismo 3.